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Spotlights » Bo Pratt, '05 & '07
If you regularly flip through the pages of a popular magazine or surf the cable channels at home, chances are you've seen the face of former Laker football player, and Grand Valley graduate Robert (Bo) Pratt, '05 & '07.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Art in 2005, Pratt ventured to Australia to start his master's degree.
"I decided at the beginning of my trip that everything I said that I would never try, due to fear, I would reconsider" Pratt said.
That's when Pratt's adventure began. His journey put him face to face with dingoes, took him bungee jumping, glacier climbing, and diving in the Great Barrier Reef. He met Green Peace members in Tasmania, drank Kava with local tribesmen, dined on insects, and he finished his semester abroad as a member of the undefeated Australian Rugby League.
When Pratt returned to the states to finish up his master's degree in Computer Science, he stumbled upon some modeling jobs to supplement his income. Upon graduation he took a position in tech support at a local internet supplier company.
"After a couple of months I looked around at my co-workers and managers one day and I realized how unhappy most of them were," he said. "I asked myself if I wanted to be like them, and the answer was no."
A change of heart directed his focus on traveling and modeling and before long, Pratt was landing significant jobs in South Africa, and New York City. His résumé boasts of television commercials for Pepsi, Garnier, Samsung, and Kohl's, as well as ads for Cosmo, Essence, Meijer, Ford, MC Sports, and others.
Pratt splits his time between New York City and South Africa. He models and takes acting classes, but he has also found an appreciation for stepping behind the lens. He has taken up photography, and hopes to one day establish his own studio.
Motivated by challenges and the freedom to express himself, Pratt says his experiences at Grand Valley have influenced the person he is today.
"I learned so many lessons whether in classes or social situations at GVSU. Most of them play out every day. They were building blocks in my work."
It is uncertain where Bo Pratt's career will take him next, but it's sure to be an adventure.
You can find Bo Pratt's fan page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bo-Pratt/140480442638693
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